History of Wi-Hi

A Brief History:
A Tradition Of Change

Wicomico High School's history is almost as long as public education in Maryland. Seven years after the establishment of public education, Salisbury High School was formed out of the private Salisbury Academy in 1872. Salisbury Academy offered its building, but the decision was made to construct a new facility. The first new building was constructed in 1896 at a cost of $1,160.

In 1905, another building was erected at Upton Street in Salisbury that is now the site of the local newspaper, The Daily Times. At that time, the school was named Wicomico High School to recognize the fact that it served all high school students in Wicomico County.

By 1931 the Wicomico High School (Upton Street School) was overflowing and a new building was constructed on East Main Street on the site of the old city dump and opposite the new city park. They named the new building Wicomico High School and changed the old site to Upton Street Elementary School. Wicomico High School as it stood is currently named Wicomico Middle School.

(image retrieved from http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/md/wicomico/postcards/wicohs.jpg)

In 1949, the county floated a bond Issue of $3.5 million to construct the current building and the old Salisbury High School, which is now the site of Salisbury Middle School. By 1954, the new Wicomico High School was completed on Long Avenue as a campus- style high school for a little over $1.5 million. At that time the school became known as Wicomico Senior High School.

An administration building and an auditorium were added in 1975 and 1976.

Extensive renovations of the current high school were completed in 1995. At that time, Wicomico Senior High School was renamed Wicomico High School. The school currently has continued to be campus style with a total of fifteen buildings on a sixty-six-acre tract of land located in the north section of Wicomico County in Salisbury, Maryland.

Wi-Hi's campus, 2007 (c) Google Earth

Wicomico High School has always endeavored to be in the forefront of education by developing new and innovative programs to improve the school environment, which will benefit both students and staff. In addition, Wicomico High School is unique for the family atmosphere held by its total school community, which is supportive and caring. The desire for continuous improvement has enabled Wicomico High School to offer excellent educational benefits to its students for over 100 years.

Significant Dates
in the History of
Wicomico High School

1872	Salisbury Academy property purchased by Wicomico County School Board
1873	New high school building constructed, 30 x 60 feet, two stories high
1882	First commencement ceremony held
1902	Tenth grade added
1905	New brick structure completed on Upton Street - named Wicomico High School
1906	Eleventh grade added
1908	First bus line established to the Nanticoke area
1920s	New wings added to the Upton Street structure
1931	New brick structure erected on East Main Street to house the high school population
1932	Original accreditation received by Middle States Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges
1937	First Junior/Senior Banquet held First edition of the Wi Hi News is printed and sold for 5 cents
1949	Twelfth grade added
1950	Reaccredidation by Middle States Association
1954	Long Avenue site opens to grades 10-12 Enrollment of 710 students
1955	Gymnasium completed
1960	Reaccredidation by Middle States Association Football field and quarter mile track constructed
1965	Ninth grade moved to Wicomico Senior High School
1970	Reaccredidation by Middle States Association
1972	Breezeways enclosed, student parking lot paved, library courtyard and bus ramp constructed
1975	Student Government Association opened outside eating area by the cafeteria Administrative and Guidance buildings constructed
1977	New auditorium completed
1980	Reaccredidation by Middle States Association
1990	Reaccredidation by Middle States Association
1995	Rededication of renovated Wicomico High School
1996	First female principal named
1999	Redistricting plan for the entire county projected enrollment of 1,200 students
2005	First African-American principal named

Principals of Wicomico High School
1872-1880	Thomas H. Williams
1880-Christmas 1880	Rev. Dr. A. C. Heaton
Christmas1880-1881	Joseph A. Graham (to finish term or until a new principal be obtained)
January 25, 1881-1884	DeWitt Clintin Ingle
1884-1886	Samuel E. Forman
1886-1889 (spring term)	Thomas H. Williams
1896-1900	Harry B. Freeny
1900-1901	Charles Howell LeFevre
1901-1903	William J. Holloway
1903-1908	J. Walter Huffington
1908-1910	C. H. Dye
1910-1913	George S. Pierce
1913-1917	J. Frank McBee
1917-1921	R. Lee Clark
1920-1948	Clarence H. Cordrey
1948-1957	William B. Jones
1957-1968	George H. Cordrey
1968-1971	W. Kenneth Smith
1971-1974	Anthony S. Sarbanes
1974-1989	Robert Dennis Evans
1989-1996	Thomas B. Field
1996-2003	Ruth F. Malone
2003-2005	Bryan Ashby
2005-present	Lorenzo Hughes

History of Wi-Hi

Principals of Wicomico High School

Principals of
Wicomico High School